Pathways linking sports participation to bone density and geometry among adolescents: ABCD growth study.

UNLABELLED

This study investigated variables linked to sports participation and its impacts on bone density and geometry among adolescents. This study shows that lean soft tissue was the main link between sports participation and bone density and geometry among adolescents of both sexes. Higher ground reaction force in sports impacts bone positively, while higher body fatness and bone resorption rate negatively, all these variables seem to assume complementary roles in this phenomenon, especially among boys.

INTRODUCTION

Sports participation boosts bone formation in early life, but the pathways are still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate which variables linked to sports participation are most consistently related to bone density and geometry among adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 86 adolescents (28 girls) aged from 11 to 17 years were classified as Control (12 adolescents) and Sport (74 adolescents). The outcomes were bone density and geometry from lower limbs measured using the bone densitometry technique. Variables linked to participation were intensity, ground reaction force, strength, lean soft tissue, and parameter of bone formation. Covariates were sex, somatic maturation, and body fatness.

RESULTS

Among boys, lean soft tissue (r = 0.861) remained the main determinant of bone density along with sport ground reaction force (r = 0.211). For bone geometry, lean soft tissue remained the main determinant, while blood concentration of bone resorption markers (r = - 0.262) and body fatness (r = - 0.205) were inversely related to it. For girls, the only determinant of bone density and geometry was lean soft tissue (ranging from r = 0.461 to r = 0.759). All models explained bone density and geometry better among boys (from 73.4 to 80.9%) than girls (from 47.6 to 62.6%).

CONCLUSION

Lean soft tissue is the main link of sports participation with bone density and geometry among adolescents of both sexes. Higher ground reaction force in sports impacts bone positively, while higher body fatness and bone resorption rate negatively, all these variables seem to assume complementary roles in this phenomenon, especially among boys.